Athletic Code of Conduct

Woodhaven High School Athletic Code

All Woodhaven-Brownstown School District students are responsible for complying with the rules of the student handbook. The Code of Conduct is enforced 365 days a year. Furthermore, students must comply with the following:

Refrain from the use, sale, or possession of illegal drugs at any time or place.

Refrain from the use, sale, or possession of tobacco at any time or place.

Refrain from the use, sale, or possession of alcohol at any time or place.

Refrain from unsportsmanlike conduct or any action which would bring disgrace upon the school.

Each coach, club sponsor, band director, etc., may establish and enforce additional rules and penalties. These rules must be in writing, approved by the athletic director and/or building principal, and shared with all participating students and parents.

Category I Violations – Fighting, malicious or spiteful insubordination toward school personnel, threatening or intimidating behavior and/or harassment of school personnel, or destruction of school property. Threatening or intimidatingbehavior and/or harassment of another student in school or at any school function.

Penalty

First offense: 25% of the consecutively scheduled dates (days) of the season during which the violation occurred, effective immediately

Second offense: 50% of the consecutively scheduled dates (days) of the season during which the violation occurred, effective immediately.

Third Offense: Suspension for one (1) calendar year from the time the principal or athletic director is notified of the infraction. Before reinstatement, after serving the year, the participant must present a written letter to the athletic director explaining why he/she should be reinstated.

Category II Violations - Use or possession of tobacco in any form; use, possession, or under the influence of a controlled substance (other than prescribed by a physician) and paraphernalia related to those substances; consumption, possession, or under the influence of alcoholic beverages; to steal or be an accomplice to the act of stealing.

Penalty

First offense: 25% of the consecutively scheduled dates (days) of the season during which the violation occurred, effective immediately

Second offense: Suspension for one (1) calendar year from the time the principal or athletic director is notified of the infraction. Before reinstatement, after serving the year, the participant must present a written letter to the athletic director explaining why he/she should be reinstated.

Third Offense: Procedure will be identical to that of the second violation.

Sale or distribution of substances – Illegal sale or distribution of a controlled substance (including prescription medications) or alcoholic beverages.

Penalty

First Offense: 50% of the consecutively scheduled dates of the season during which the violation occurred.

Second Offense: Suspension for one (1) calendar year.

Gross Misconduct –Gross misconduct is defined as cheating, fighting, violation of a civil or criminal law or any socially unacceptable behavior that brings discredit to the athlete, parents, school or team.

Penalty

Suspension from 25% or 50% of the consecutively scheduled dates of the season during which the violation occurred, possible removal of the privilege of being a team captain, possible suspension from the team for the remainder of the season or seasons and/or possible suspension from athletic participation for up to one calendar year. Punishment will be dependent upon severity of the offense.

MHSAA EligibilityThe Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) has been the governing body of high school athletics in our state since 1924, and the Woodhaven-Brownstown School District is part of more than 700 public, parochial and private schools that have agreed to follow the rules and regulations MHSAA helps enact. The following is a summary of the high school MHSAA Ten-Point Checklist for Student eligibility:

AgeHigh school students become ineligible if they reach their nineteenth birthday before September 1 of a current school year.

Undergraduate StandingStudents involved with high school sports are NOT to be a high school graduate.

Physical ExaminationStudents must have on file, in the athletic office, a physician’s statement for the current school year (after April 15th) certifying that he/she is physically able to compete in athletic practices and contests.

EnrollmentStudents must be enrolled in school prior to the fourth Friday after Labor Day or the fourth Friday of February. A student must be enrolled in the school for which he or she competes.

Semesters or Trimesters of EnrollmentStudents cannot be eligible in high school for more than eight semesters or twelve trimesters and the seventh and eighth semesters or the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth trimesters must be consecutive. Students are allowed four first semesters and four second semesters or trimester equivalents of competition and cannot compete if they have graduated from high school. When two seasons leading to a state championship of the same sport are offered, an athlete may participate in only one.

Transfer StudentsA student in grades nine through twelve who transfers to another high school prior to the fourth Friday after Labor Day and does not meet one or more of fifteen published exceptions for immediate eligibility becomes eligible to participate in an interscholastic contest on Martin Luther King Day. A student who does not qualify and has transferred by the fourth Friday of February becomes eligible following August 1.

Undue InfluenceThe use of undue influence by any person directly or indirectly associated with a school to secure or encourage the attendance of a student for athletic purposes will cause the student to become ineligible for a minimum of one semester.

Limited Team MembershipAfter practicing with or participating with high school teams, students cannot participate in any athletic competition not sponsored by his or her school in the same sport during the same season. Students in individual sports may participate in a maximum of two non-school individual meets or contests during the school season while not representing their school.

All-Star CompetitionStudents shall not compete at any time in any sport under MHSAA jurisdiction in all- star contests or national championships regardless of the method of selection. Participation in such a contest shall cause that student to become ineligible for a maximum period of one year of school enrollment.

Awards and AmateurismStudents cannot receive money or other valuable considerations for participating in MHSAA sponsored sports or officiating in interscholastic athletic contests, except as allowed by the HANDBOOK. Students may accept, for participation in MHSAA sponsored sports, a symbolic or merchandise award which does not have a value over $25.00. Banquets, luncheons, dinners, trips, and admission to camps or events, are permitted if accepted “in kind.” Awards in the form of cash merchandise, certificates, or any other negotiable document are not allowed.

Any other specific rules or regulations can be found in the athletic office.